Billy turned off a jam-packed Michigan Avenue early on, but it was enough for Eleanor to notice that most of the people on the crowded sidewalks were moving south. Even though the local residential streets weren’t as busy, she still saw a lot of people leaving their residences and walking rapidly in the direction of Millennium Park. By the time they reached Randolph Street, the crowd was thick.
“They’ve closed off Randolph,” she said, seeing the police cars stationed to the right to block off the street. “What’s going on?” she asked Trey in bewildered curiosity as they exited the sedan and joined what looked like hundreds of people crossing the street. She could see the huge city Christmas tree alight in the park. There was the distant sound of music echoing in the air. A feeling of excitement and good cheer seemed to emanate from the moving crowd.
“It’s a surprise concert,” Trey s
aid, pulling her along. “They just sent out an announcement on social media a few hours ago, and now the radio and television has picked it up. Looks like people are flooding into the park from the shopping districts now that the stores are closed.”
“A surprise concert?” Eleanor asked breathlessly. “Who’s performing?”
But the crowd had grown thick and the music was getting louder. Trey was prevented from answering. He had to go ahead of her to cut a path. He kept a tight hold on her hand, weaving his way through the mass of chattering people. After a minute of this, the crowd broke as they descended down a slight hill to the seats and grassy area in front of the Pritzker Pavilion.
“Oh my God, look at all the people,” she murmured in wide-eyed amazement. The seats were already filled and the grassy area was packed to the brim with standing and dancing people. The music was upbeat and loud, being performed by fifteen or so dancing and singing women on the stage. Trey led her in the direction of the large pavilion.
The performers were belting out a jazzy version of “Santa Baby” and the crowd was loving it. A huge wide-screen television on either side of the stage made the performance visible even to people at the farthest reaches of the park. Eleanor watched the flashy performance as Trey pulled her along. Her feet started to drag when he urged her so close to the edge of the pavilion she started to lose sight of the performers.
“Come on.” He urged her around the side of the pavilion. “I think they’re about to go on.”
“Who’s about to go on? Where are we going?” She laughed incredulously when he pulled her to the side of the pavilion.
“Backstage,” she heard him say before he led her to a door with several men standing in front of it. His hand dipped into his breast pocket. A man studied the piece of paper Trey showed him with a stern expression. The security guard glanced up, a smile breaking over his face.
“Enjoy the show, Mr. Riordan. And thanks for setting it up. Looks like quite a crowd.”
“Thanks,” Trey said when the man opened the door for them.
Then he was pulling her up some stairs, and her heart was beating in wild excitement. In the distance, she heard a man on a loudspeaker, his voice a little muffled by the sound of their feet pounding on the metal stairs and the loud cheers from the crowd. Her heart jumped, and there was a huge explosion of applause.
Had she heard the announcer correctly?
Trey led her through a shadowed area. Over his shoulder, she saw a slice of the brilliant lights of the stage between two rows of curtains. The opening notes to “Sock It to Me Santa” rang in the air around them and vibrated the floor beneath them. Before Trey could draw her close to the stage, she pulled on his hand, halting him. He turned.
“Did he say Bruno Mars and Sam Smith?” she shouted incredulously over the music. The men started singing, and Trey didn’t need to answer. She grinned hugely, and he smiled back. He leaned forward and spoke near her ear. “A holiday performance. It was an impromptu thing. TalentNet and the Magnificent Mile Shopping Association planned it with the artists. Come on,” he said.
She followed him to the wings eagerly. Awe overcame her as she stared out onto the brightly lit stage onto hordes of glittering, shimmying backup singers and the two incredibly energetic, talented performers. She was almost within touching distance of some of the dancers, and she could feel the heat of the stage lights.
She looked up at Trey. He noticed and squeezed her hand warmly. She laughed as a wave of pure happiness went through her. Sure, it was partially excitement from the novelty of standing on the stage, so close to an amazing performance.
But mostly, she experienced sheer joy from standing next to him at that moment. He was what made everything so colorful and vibrant.
He was what made her feel like the world was a fresh, new, amazing place to be.
—
Her ebullient mood continued when they’d been seated later that evening at the Park Grill. Her brain and body were still abuzz with excitement from the treat of the surprise concert.
“I don’t need this,” she told Trey when they lifted their champagne-filled glasses for a toast. She beamed at him over the top of the flutes. “Who needs champagne after a night like that? I’m still bubbling inside. Thank you. It was so amazing.”
His smile faded. He dipped his head toward hers. “Do you know you’re glowing right now? Actually glowing?” he repeated, his gaze moving over her face.
“I’m flushed from the dancing. It was hot under the lights,” she told him. She still couldn’t believe it, but during the finale of the concert, they’d been pulled onto the stage along with several other people who had been watching in the wings. She’d remember that forever, dancing under the bright lights with Trey to an unforgettable “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town” as the crowd sang along and went wild.
That’s when she’d first realized it. She’d never been in love before.
Until now.
And she was still flying high in the clouds from that realization. Fear might hover at the periphery of her consciousness, a black anxiety that she’d made the cardinal error of engaging in an affair: she’d fallen in love. But the heat and the glow were what dominated tonight. She couldn’t feel anything but euphoric as she stared into Trey’s eyes at that moment.
He leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. “You glow because you’re beautiful,” he said. “Inside and out.” Her heart squeezed in her chest at what she thought she read in his eyes at that moment.